...Posts Sharing Examples of How the Bible is Still Relevant in Our Lives Today (Posted on Monday and Thursday mornings)

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Not Giving Up Easily, The More the Merrier, Hiding Behind My Fear of What Others Will Think of Me Posts-

Since Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life, is now on line through individual posts, I am now putting several links together for each post. I found groupings of three posts worked well for anyone interested in using these for a Bible study group. Debbie Seiling

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew, Chapter 18, verses 15-18.

God doesn’t want us to give up on people easily, but we are to follow a progression from approaching them privately to publicly, if necessary.First, we are to have a confidential talk with the person who is going down the wrong path. If that doesn’t work, we are to get others to help. It reminds me of something that I’ve seen on TV where loved ones gather together for an “Intervention” to tell a drug user that they need to go through drug rehab for their sake and all those who care about them. If that doesn’t work, we are to turn to the church for support to confront this person. If nothing works, we have to cut our losses, disassociating ourselves from that person so that we don’t inadvertently get caught up in their lifestyle.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew, Chapter 18, verses 19-20.

This reminds me of the saying: Two heads are better than one.Well, in this passage two people praying are better than one and it’s a situation of: the more the merrier.So when I’m concerned about someone’s health, I call my church’s prayer chain and raise my hand during the Joys and Concerns portion of the church service.

Of course, God answers prayers in whatever way He determines is best. Sometimes it isn’t always the way we had hoped things would turn out. Although it may be difficult to understand, I ultimately need to have faith in God’s decisions and timing for everything.

And while He yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss? When they which were about Him saw what would follow, they said unto Him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And He touched his ear, and healed him. Luke, Chapter 22, verses 47-51.

I don’t know if I could do something nice like heal a person who was part of a plot to kill me.I’ve been known to remember situations for over twenty years where someone has been rude or hurtful to me, yet I am dependent on Jesus’ forgiving nature.If He remembered all my sins the same way I have harbored resentments toward others, there’s no way I would ever make it to heaven.He forgives me over and over, even when I don’t deserve His forgiveness.He is there loving me when I find it difficult to love myself.I’m so fortunate to have Jesus as my Savior and Redeemer.

I write these things and find I’m very two-faced.I say things like Savior and Redeemer in my writing and realize that I would never be caught dead saying these things in public.I think that’s because I don’t want to sound like a religious fanatic to others.I might say that I love Jesus, but that’s usually as far as my profession of faith goes.I need to pay attention because I could be faced with Jesus saying, “I love Debbie, but I can’t allow her to have Salvation because she is afraid to risk the condemnation of others.She is afraid that if she says I’m her Savior and Redeemer, others will think she is a religious fanatic!What a shame.She had such potential, but if she can’t acknowledge Me, I don’t feel obliged to acknowledge her.Such a shame!”

Actually, this reminds me about the passage I had just written where Simon Peter denied Jesus three times. Well, Simon Peter still received Salvation, because he learned from his mistakes and realized how terrible it was that he had denied Jesus. Simon Peter turned his life around where he became someone who readily proclaimed his love for Jesus. Now I need to be able to do the same. I need to turn my life around and not hide behind my fear of what people will think of me. I’m still very weak in this area and need to ask that God gives me the willingness to let Him guide my actions and my words, now and always, not just when it’s comfortable.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

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Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life

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About the Author:

Having read the Bible from cover to cover 16+ times, I felt led to write Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life to show that the Bible is still significant in our lives today. Since these posts are examples of how I apply the Bible to my daily life, they don't necessarily represent the whole meaning of the Bible passages. Will you relate to these Bible passages in the same ways that I have? My desire is that through these examples, you will learn to relate to the Bible in a way that is personally significant to you!

Book ISBN Numbers

PB: 9781418412180
HB: 9781418412173
eB: 9781418412197

Previous Cover and Pen Name

Links to Other Blogs I Felt Led to Create:

Types of Christians Posts Link

Bible Study: Relating the Bible to YOUR Life!

Easy Bible Study with Examples to Make Bible Connections to Self,Text, World, and Media

Read the Book for Free:

Read Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life for Free! Click on the Archive on 2015 and when you read the posts from 8/3/15 through 9/22/16 , you will have read the complete book. Feel free to share this info with others. P.S. It doesn't really matter if you read the posts out of sequence (top down). Enjoy! Debra Seiling

Free2ShareVBS Link

Free VBS Curriculum

A Christian Caregiver Blog

Trying to Maintain a Focus on Christ's Will While Providing Care for a Parent

Review by Rev. Gordon

Debra Seiling's "Bible Passages" is an interesting book to read. Written in narrative form after reading the Bible multiple times, I did not find Debra's book to be "preachy" or holier-than-thou". While I do not believe Debra's book was intended to be-or will be-used as a textbook, it does contain multiple revelations of one person's assessment and truths with regard to what impact God's Word has had on her life in the past, at present, and as she expects it will in the future. Is the Bible relevant to us in today's world? What Debra Seiling has written in her book, the answer to that question is a resounding: "YES!"

Lilybean's Review

I have been using this book a little differently than just as a reading book. As a daily devotional or study book, it is wonderful. All you have to do is open it up to any page, read the passage and the short narrative and begin your personal study, meditation or group discussion. Because it is written in plain English, it would be perfect for a youth group or high school group. Don't let the lack of sections and headers, or the simple layout dissuade you. It would be a great book to get discussions going for an ice breaker or as a whole study session. Let the author comment, let the Spirit speak to you, and you will find value in this book.

Author's Disclosure

Readers should know that any profits I get from the sale of the book: Bible Passages That Can Influence Your Life are donated to a charity of my choice, which varies from time to time. I do not receive any money or compensation from any business and any charity links on my blogs link directly to the charity. I don't feel right getting money for doing what God has led me to do for Him. Debbie